Fire Dept. gets $105,000

Sunday, March 08
SOUTHFIELD — New Marlborough Fire and Rescue has announced it has received more than $105,000 in two grants it will use to improve safety for its members.
The department received $101,262 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It also received a $3,900 grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

"Both of these grants will be used to purchase items that will improve the safety of our members while at calls and while at the station," said New Marlborough Fire Chief Peter Scala. "The FEMA grant, in particular, will allow us to buy equipment that we need now, but which we would have otherwise had to acquire in phases over several budget-years. Each of our members, and the town as a whole, will benefit from these grants."

The FEMA grant will purchase protective turnout gear and new boots for each of New Marlborough Fire and Rescue's approximately 34 members, including 20 firefighters and 14 members of the department's rescue squad. New turnout gear, also known as personal protective equipment, can often cost more than $2,000 per set, which includes heavy-duty, fire-resistant pants and coat.

The FEMA grant will also purchase exhaust filters — which remove harmful toxins from diesel exhaust — for installation on the department's two engines, its tanker, brush truck and its ambulance. The grant will


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also pay for a new thermal imaging camera.
The $3,900 state grant will be used to purchase five lit, reflective cones for each department apparatus, four pagers, and a battery-powered reciprocating saw that will be added to the department's extrication equipment.

"These items are valuable additions to our inventory and all of it is equipment that our firefighters and first responders will use many times over," said Scala, who wrote the Department's FEMA grant application.

Nationally, the AFG awards, which will be distributed in phases, will ultimately provide approximately $560 million to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations throughout the country.

AFG awards aim to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively promote the health and safety of the public with respect to fire and other hazards. The grants enable local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations to purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs and buy equipment and response vehicles.

Founded in 1930, New Marlborough Fire & Rescue includes more than 30 members who provide fire, ambulance and other emergency services in the town of New Marlborough. The department's station is located in Southfield. For anyone interested in joining, training is held at 7 p.m. each Tuesday at the station, with first Tuesdays of the month reserved for the department's business meeting. New members are welcome.